Rack and spool for holding rope-coils



(No Model.)

0. J. L6 ROY. Rack and Spool for'I-Iolding Rope Coils; No. 232,733.

Patented Sept. 28,1880.

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' WITNESSES f (3 W60?! N.PEIF.RS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON. I10.

UNITED STATES .EPATENT rrrcn,

CHARLES J. LE ItOY, OF PALESTINE, TEXAS.

RACK AND SPOOL FOR HOLDING ROPE-COILS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 232,733, dated September 28, 1880,

Application filed May 3, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES JEROME LE ROY, of Palestine, in the county of Anderson and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Racks and Spools for Holding Rope-Coils and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to certain new and useful in'lprovements in reel-spool racks used in retail stores for holding different sizes and kinds of rope-coils in a convenient manner for unreeling any required length of rope without disarrangiug the coil.

The invention consists in a peculiar construction of frame and arrangement of the spools or reels upon. the frame to secure a light and compact structure of sufficient stability to sup port the required number of rope-coils.

Theinvention further consists in an i in proved means for securing the spool-spindles to the framing, so that they may be readily attached to or detached therefrom for placing a new coil upon the spools and the invention finally consists in an improved construction of spool, which will adapt itself to fit closely within the various-sized openings in the ends of coils of rope without leaving a space between the end of the coil and the flange of the spool into which the rope may become uncoiled or entangled.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the rack, showing a portion of the frame in position to remove one of the spools 5 Fig. 2, a side elevation of one of the spools and coils, with one of the ends in section; Fig. 3, an end view of the spool, and Fig. 4 a transverse section through one of the spools in the line 00 0c of Fig. 2.

The frame is formed of two main posts, A, connected by cross-bars B B B 13 and bar 0. The cross-bars B B B are arranged at suitable distances apart to inclose spools D D in each space between them, which are supported in a horizontal position, so that the ends of their spindles rest in notches a a in the main posts A and freely turn therein, and may be lifted out of the notches when it is desired to placea new coil upon oneof the spindles. Metal caps to, pivoted to the outer side of the posts, cover the notches and prevent the bearings from becoming filled with dust. In order to form a substantial base for the rack, the two lower and largest spools, D D are arranged with their spindles at right angles to the spindles of the upper spools, D D, and to form asupport for them in this position two short upright posts, F F, are rigidly secured between the cross bars B and B and between the cross-bar B and base 0. Horizontal bars G G G are secured to and project at right an gles from the cross-braces B B and base 0, between the ends of which are arranged short upright posts F F, to correspond with posts F F and together form bearing-blocks for the spindles of thelower spools, D D The posts F are hinged at f to the lower bars, with which they are connected, and are secured, by spring clasps orhooksf, to thebarimmediately above them. As the posts F form the bearings at one end of the spools 1) D these spools may be readily removed from the rack by unclasping the posts F at their upper ends and turning them down upon their hinges, as shown in Fig. 1. The base 0 and lower bar, G form a a firm three-legged base for the rack, and may be provided with rollers or blocks 0 at their ends to raise the base a suitable distance from the floor.

Pivoted plates f may be used to cover the beariu g and end of the shaft, to form a finish and keep out the dust. To the upper side and middle portion of the bar B a metal step is secured, into or upon which the lower end of the spindle of a vertical spool, D rests, so that the spindle may freely turn thereon. The upper end of the spindle is journaled in a segmental plate, I-I, secured to the upper ends of the posts A. The plate H is hinged to the posts or secured to the upper end of the spindle of the spool D in such manner that the spool may be easily taken from the rack when desired.

The spools are made so as to be adjusted to closely fit the varied-sized lengths and eyes of the rope-coils in the following manner: The spindle b of each of the spools is turned. down at its ends to forms journals 1), upon which it may freely turn, and the extremity of one of the ends 12 is squared to fit the eye of a crankhandle, so that the spool will form a reel for winding and unwinding the rope. The ends coiled and hitched, which would prevent it the coil without leaving an intervening space,

of the spindle b, inside the journals, are turn ed with a right-hand thread upon one side and a left-hand thread upon the other, upon which circular disks or flange-plates B are screwed. By holding the disks while the shaft is turned with the crank both plates may be drawn together or forced apart at the same time to suit the length of the coil, so that the disks may always be made to press closely against the ends of the coil, and no intervening space will be allowed into which the rope may become unfrom being readily unrolled from the spool.

The eye of the coil is fitted closely upon the spool by means of a hollow sectional cone, B formed of three separate blocks arranged upon the inner side of each of the disks B. Each of the blocks composing the cone B is connected to the disk-plates by pins or bolts 1) that pass through radial slots 1) in the said disks. Each pin may have a head or nut upon the end outside the disk, to prevent the blocks from become accidentally detached, and each of the blocks has a spring, I), arranged between its inner surface and the shaft, so that the blocks are always forced out to the limit determined by the length of the radial slot 1) unless compressed by being forced into the eye of a rope-coil. It will thus be seen that the eye of the coil may always be fitted by the cone, so that the coil may be sccurel y held upon the spool and turned with it, and thus prevent it from sagging and permit the spo0lspindle to turn freely within it. The disks may also be broughtto fit closely against the ends of and the last layer of rope may be reeled off from the spool without the coil becoming loose I and uneven.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a rack for holding rope-coils, the combination of the vertical posts A, supporting the upper horizontal spools, D D, and the short posts F F, for supporting the lower spools, 1) D horizontally and at right angles to the upper spools to counterbalance the structure and give a suitable base to the frame, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the posts A and their cross-bars for supporting the upper spools, the posts F F for supporting the lower spools at right angles to the upper spools, and a plate, H, secured to the upper ends of posts A to support a vertical cap-spool, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination ofthe fixed upright posts F, base 0, horizontal cross-bars G G G and upright posts F, hinged at one end and secured by a catch at the other to the cross-bars, for supporting the spindles of the horizontal spools and admitting of their removal from the rack, substantially as described.

4. In a reel *spool, the combination of the shaft, the disks screwed upon either end of the shaft, and a sectional cone adj ustably secured to the disk and forced away from the shaft by springs pressing between the cone-sections and the shaft, substantially as and for the purpose described.

C. J. LE ROY. Witnesses:

SoLoN O. KEMON, Guns. A. PETTIT. 

